Islendingadagurinn 2013

It's Manitoba's toughest festival to spell and pronounce, but one of the most fun to attend. The Icelandic Festival of Manitoba happens every year over the August long weekend, and features plenty of sights, sounds, smells, and more than a few Viking helmets.

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Spectators watch the Islendingadunk competition at the Gimli Harbour during the Icelandic Festival of Manitoba Saturday.

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The Islendingadunk competition entails two people sitting on a soap-covered beam while hitting each other with sponge-filled sacks.

Lola Maier, 2, from Vancouver, peeks through an over-sized game of Connect Four at Islendingadagurinn.

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Colton Boulanger, 4, does his best Viking impersonation.

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Tracy Stubbert (a.k.a. Grimnir), a member of Vikings Vinland — a group made up of members from across Canada, the U.S. and Europe — stands in the Viking Village at the Icelandic Festival of Manitoba in Gimli.

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Members of Vikings Vinland battle one another during a demonstration.

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Dodge! Parry! Thrust! Etc.!

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Alas, this Viking hath been smote.

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A member of Vikings Vinland speaks with visitors to the Viking Village.

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Members of Vikings Vinland charge into battle wielding pool noodles to fight a group of very dangerous children.

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Daniel Stipanovic, 5, seems pretty handy with a pool noodle, as several defeated members of Vikings Vinland lay at his feet after battle.

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The group of dangerous children were later seen threatening unsuspecting Ammas with pool noodle swords in an attempt to scare up some vinarterta.

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